Question 1

Jared is planning a celebratory event at his organization for two retiring members with Janice.Janice believes they should get an ad hoc committee together and distribute the work,while Jared believes they should just get the aid of two other members and work collectively.What concept of the systems metaphor are they dealing with?

Accepted Answer

Equifinality refers to the concept that a system can reach the same final state from different initial conditions and through different paths. Both Jared and Janice have different approaches to organizing the event, but they aim to achieve the same goal, illustrating equifinality.

Question 2

Renee has determined a faster way to complete monthly inventory reports.When she proposes her idea to Sal,her supervisor,he responds,"That's a great suggestion Renee,however,because of the way each store's UPC labels are coded,we can't sort by department,only by store." Sal is using which type of organizational control?

Accepted Answer

Sal's response indicates that the limitation is due to the technological system in place (UPC label coding), which is a form of technological control.

Question 3

The ______ culture is focused on how things get done,not by what gets accomplished.

Accepted Answer

The process culture emphasizes procedures and how tasks are completed rather than focusing on the outcomes or results.

Question 4

Craig recently started working for a human resources consulting firm.He has been making comparisons between this organization and that of his previous job,where he worked in sales.One big difference Craig has noticed is that at his old job,people seemed much friendlier and there was a lot of interoffice socialization.At his new job,everyone works fairly isolated.Craig is experiencing which stage of organizational assimilation?

Accepted Answer

Craig is in the encounter phase, where he is experiencing and comparing the realities of his new job with his expectations and past experiences.

Question 5

One focus of organizing theory is explaining how organizational members can ______.

Accepted Answer

Organizing theory focuses on reducing ambiguity and uncertainty in communication within organizations, making option C the correct choice.

Question 6

A double interact consists of an act,a response,and a/an ______.

Accepted Answer

A double interact consists of an act, a response, and an adjustment, which is the third part of the interaction process.

Question 7

The sense of belonging that individuals feel to an organization is known as ______.

Accepted Answer

Identification refers to the sense of belonging or connection individuals feel towards an organization, aligning their personal identity with the organization's values and goals.

Question 8

At the end of October,you and your coworkers decided to bring some fun into the office and wore Halloween costumes.However,your supervisor wasn't amused,and he has filed a complaint with Human Resources.During a meeting with HR,the Director says "according to the Employee Handbook,you have violated code five,which states that all employees must comply with a professional dress code.Failure to follow the dress code constitutes a violation of university regulations." Which form of control is being used?

Accepted Answer

Bureaucratic control is being used as it involves adherence to rules and regulations, such as the Employee Handbook's dress code policy.

Question 9

While ______ are by definition observable,interpreting what they mean may not always be obvious.

Accepted Answer

Artifacts are observable elements in a culture, but their meanings may not be immediately clear without understanding the underlying values and assumptions.

Question 10

Some consider The Beatles to be an example of ______;separately,they were not the best musicians,but together they created bestselling and critically acclaimed music.

Accepted Answer

Nonsummativity refers to the concept that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which is applicable to The Beatles as their collective work was more impactful than their individual contributions.

Question 11

______ is the tendency for a given system to maintain stability in the face of change.

Accepted Answer

Homeostasis is the tendency for a given system to maintain stability in the face of change.

Question 12

After many months,Gina finally feels like she is a part of the organization.People actually come to her to get questions answered,and Phil doesn't call her "Noob" anymore (short for "newbie").What stage of assimilation does this refer to?

Accepted Answer

Gina feels integrated and accepted in the organization, indicating she has reached the metamorphosis stage, where she is fully assimilated and recognized as a member.

Question 13

Which of the following situations best describes an example of a double interact,as used in Weick's Information Systems Approach?

Accepted Answer

A double interact involves a sequence of actions and responses, where an initial action is met with a response that prompts a further action, creating a feedback loop. In option D, the employee's suggestion is met with a directive from the manager, which the employee then follows, completing the interaction cycle.

Question 14

Growing up,Austin's mother told him not to be a police officer because she thought it was too dangerous.Also,Austin never really liked shows that featured police officers,like Cops.What stage of assimilation does this refer to?

Accepted Answer

Vocational anticipatory socialization refers to the early exposure and attitudes towards certain professions, often influenced by family and media, which shapes one's career expectations and interests.

Question 15

Viewpoints organizational members hold about the world,including perceptions,thoughts,feelings,and beliefs,are called ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Viewpoints organizational members hold about the world,including...

Question 16

Donelle is very upset that Pete is leaving their company.She thinks no one can do the job the way that he does.Pete assures her that he has seen many employees come and go,and while it will be somewhat different,things will eventually go back to "normal." Pete is referring to what concept of the systems metaphor?

Accepted Answer

Pete is referring to homeostasis, which is the concept that systems tend to return to a state of equilibrium or stability after a change.

Question 17

______ is considered positive nonsummativity,the ability to achieve more together than with individual effort.

Accepted Answer

Synergy is the concept where the combined effect of a group is greater than the sum of individual efforts, representing positive nonsummativity.

Question 18

An organizational culture that adopts a low risk and rapid pace for feedback and rewards is known as a ______ culture.

Accepted Answer

The "work hard, play hard" culture is characterized by a low-risk environment with rapid feedback and rewards, focusing on high energy and team-oriented activities.

Question 19

______ is the main reason why nonsummativity occurs.

Accepted Answer

Interdependence is the main reason why nonsummativity occurs. Nonsummativity refers to the phenomenon where the whole is not equal to the sum of its parts. This is because the parts of a system are interdependent, and their interactions can create new properties that are not present in the individual parts.

Question 20

The informal communication processes within the organization,including stories,jokes,and gossip,constitute which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The informal communication processes like stories, jokes, and gossip are part of the cultural network within an organization, which helps in shaping and transmitting the organizational culture.

Quiz 9: Organizational Communication